Mounting means for electrical switch blade and for fuse blade terminal

ABSTRACT

An elongated generally U-shaped mounting member is disposed within a pair of substantially longitudinally aligned U-shaped spring members, and a generally L-shaped mounting member coextensive in length with the U-shaped mounting member has one leg dividing the space between the legs of the U-shaped mounting member and its other leg secured to the bight portion of the Ushaped mounting member. An end portion of a switch blade is disposed within the U-shaped mounting member adjacent one end thereof and on one side of the dividing leg of the L-shaped mounting member. A pivot pin for the switch blade has a shank portion received in bearing relationship in aligned openings provided respectively in one leg of the U-shaped mounting member, in the end portion of the switch blade, and in the dividing leg of the L-shaped mounting member. An enlarged head portion of the pin extends with clearance through an opening in the other leg of the U-shaped mounting member. A leg portion of one of the spring members engages an outer face of the head portion and presses an annular inner face thereof into engagement with the other side of the dividing leg. A blade terminal of a cartridge fuse is disposable within the U-shaped mounting member adjacent the other end thereof and on the other side of the dividing leg.

United States Patent I Stanback l A MOUNTING MEANs FOR ELECTRICAL SWITCH BLADE AND FOR FUSE BLADE TERMINAL Harris I. Stanbuek, Lexington, Ky.

. Assignee: Square D Company, Park Ridge, [11. f Filed: Nov. 17, 1971 Appl. No.: 199,646

Inventor:

52 use. ..337/21s, ZOO/166E [511 [58] Field of Search ...200/l70 A, 166 E; 337/9, l9 0,

337/208, 209, 2-13, 215; 339/256-C, 258 F, I

- Provided respectively m one leg of the U-shaped References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 8 /l 956 Kowalski et a1. ..200/l70 A 3,575,566 4/l97l Rys ..200/166 E Primary Examiner-Bernard A. Gilheany Assistant Examiner-F. E. Bell AttorneyHarold J. Rathbun et al. m

. [57] An elongated generally U-shaped mounting member is Int. CL. ..-....l-l0lh 3/00.

[4 1 v v Dec. 5, 1972 ABSTRACT disposed within a pair of. substantially longitudinally aligned U-shaped spring members, and a generally L- shaped mounting member coextensive in length with the U-shaped mounting member has one leg dividing the space between the legs of the U-shaped mounting member and its other leg secured to the bight portion of the U-shaped mounting member. An end portion of a switch blade is disposed within the U-shaped mounting member adjacent one end thereof and on one side of the dividing leg of the' L-shaped mounting member. A pivot pin for the switch blade has a shank portion received in bearing relationship in aligned openings the head portion and presses an annular inner face thereof into engagement with the other side of the .dividing leg. A blade terminal of a cartridge fuse is disposable within the U-shaped mounting member adjacent the other end thereof and on the other side of .the dividing leg.

4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures MOUNTING MEANS FOR ELECTRICAL SWITCH BLADE AND FOR FUSE BLADE TERMINAL This invention relates generally to a mounting means for a switch blade and cartridge-type fuse of a fusible electric switch, and more particularly to such a mounting means constructed to provide more efficient utilization of the force of U-shaped springs forming part of the mounting means. i

A prior mounting means disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,575,566, issued Apr. 20, 1971, comprises a generally U-shaped mounting member and a generally L-shaped mounting member having one of its legs dividing the space between the leg portions of the U-shaped mounting member and its other leg secured to the-bight portion of the U-shaped mounting member. A pair of longitudinally aligned generally U-shaped spring members enclose and grip the U-shaped mounting member. A switch blade is pivotally mounted within the U-shaped mounting member adjacentone end thereof and on one side of the dividing leg of the, L-shaped mounting member by a'pin having a shank portion received in aligned openings provided respectively in the blade and in the dividing leg and an enlarged head portion received in an aligned openingin one leg of the U- shaped mounting member and trapped between theswitch blade and a leg portion of one of the spring members A blade terminal of a fuse is insertible within the U-shaped mounting member adjacent the other end thereof and on theother side of the dividing leg of the L-shaped mounting member.

The present invention is an improvement of the mounting means of the above-mentioned patent in that the mountingpin of this invention extends substantially through both legs of the U-shaped mounting member and is constructed and arrangedso as to enable both legs ofthe respective spring member to exert compressive forces respectively on opposite side of the pivoted end portion of the switch blade. In the former mounting means, the respective spring member pressed on only one side of the switch blade, no force being exerted by the spring member on the side of the switch blade engaging the dividing leg of the L-shaped mounting member, and the only force on thelatter side being the reaction force of the dividing leg.

A mounting means in accordance with this invention comprises an elongated generally U-shaped mounting member disposed between the legs of a pair of substantially longitudinally aligned generally U-shaped spring members, and agenerally L-shaped mounting member coextensive in length with the U-shaped mounting member and having one leg dividing the space between the legs of the U-shaped mounting member and the other leg secured to the bight portion of the U-shaped mounting member. An end portion of a switch blade is disposed within the U-shaped mounting member adjacent one end thereof and on one side of the dividing leg of the L-shaped mounting member and a pivot pin for the switch blade has a shank portion received in bearing relationship in aligned openings provided respectively in one leg portion of the U-shaped mounting member, in the end portion of the switch blade, and

in the dividing leg of the L-shaped mounting member.

An enlarged head portion of the pin extends with clearance through an opening in the other leg portion of the U-shaped mounting member. A leg portion of one of the springmembers engages an outer face of the head portion and presses an annular inner face thereof into engagement with the other side of the dividing leg. A blade terminal of a cartridge fuse is disposable within the U-shapedmountingmember adjacent the other end thereof and on the other side of the dividing leg.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved mounting means for a switch blade and fuse blade terminal in which both legs of a U-shaped spring member exert compressive forces respectively on opposite sides of a switch blade disposed betweenone leg portion of a U-shaped mounting member and a member dividing the space between the legsof the U- Y shaped mounting member.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent when the invention is considered in the light of the following description wherein reference is made to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fuse and switch blade mounting means constructed in accordance with this invention and having a blade terminal of a cartridge fuse mounted therein; 7

FIG. 2' is a side elevational view of the'fuse and switch blade mounting means of FIG. 1 as seen from the upper left of FIG; l but with the fuse omitted; and

FIGS. 3 and '4 are sectional views taken generally along the lines 33 and 4-4 of FIG. 2, respectively;

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The improved fuse and switch blade mounting means as illustrated in the drawings may be used in a multiple fusible enclosed switch similar to that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,339,047 issued Aug. 29, I967. The mounting means may be mounted on a suitable base (not shown) in the manner disclosed in the above-mentioned U.S. Pat. No. 3,575,566, and includes a pair of substantially longitudinally aligned generally U-shaped spring members 10 and 11, a generally U-shaped mounting member 12 disposed within the spring members l0 and 11, a generally L-shaped mounting member 14 coextensive in length with and disposed within the U-shaped mounting member 12, and an anchoring plate 16 coextensive in length with the members l2 and 14. A pair of screws 18 extend through suitable holes provided respectively in the spring members l0 and 11 and provided in the mounting members 12 and 14 and are threaded into the anchoring plate 16 adjacent opposite ends thereof to secure the members 10, 1 1, l2, l4 and 16 in assembled relationship. A

A pivot pin 20 for a switch blade 21 having an end portion 210 received between the leg portion 12 of the member 12 and the leg 14;; of the member 14 at one end portion of the mounting means has a shank portion 20a and an enlarged head portion 20b. The shank portion 20a is received'in bearing relationship in aligned openings provided respectively in the leg portion 12a, in the blade 21, and inthe leg 14a, and the head portion 20b extends with clearance through an opening in the leg portion 12b of the member 12. The blade 21 is thereby pivotally mounted on the pin 20 and is movable by known blade actuating means (not shown).

An inner annular face of the head portion 20b bears directly against one side of the leg 14a. A leg portion a of the spring member 10 presses against the outer surface of the leg portion 12a of the member 12 and an opposed leg portion 10b.presses against an outer face of the head portion b to prevent axial movement of the pin and to exert clamping force on the blade 21. The force exerted on the leg portion 12a of the member 12 presses the leg portion 12a against one side of the switch blade 21 and the force exerted on the head portion 20b of the pin 20 presses the inner annular face of the head portion 20b against the leg 14a of the L- shaped mounting member 14 and thus presses the leg 14a against the other side of the switch blade 21 An annular spacer 30 surrounds the head portion 20b of the pin 20 between the leg 14a of the L-shaped mounting member 14 and the leg portion 12b of the U- shaped mounting member 12. At the other end of the mounting means, a blade terminal 32 of a cartridge fuse is receivable in the space between the leg 14a of the member 14 and the leg portion 12b of the member 12. A spacer 34 is mounted in the leg portion 12a and extends across the space between the leg 14a of the member 14 and the leg portion 12a of the member 12.

Because the head portion 20b of the pin 20 extends through and beyond the leg portion 12b of the U shaped mounting member 12 with clearance, the clamping pressure on the switch blade 21 is constant in spite of variations in thickness of fuse blade terminals such as the terminal 32.

Various modifications may be made in the structure shown and described without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

lclaim:

1. A fuse blade terminal and switch blade mounting means comprising a pair of substantially longitudinally aligned generally U-shaped spring members, a generally U-shaped mounting member disposed within the spring members, each of the spring members having a bight portion secured to a bight portion of the U- shaped mounting member, a generally L-shaped mounting member having a dividing leg portion dividing the space between a pair of opposed leg portions of the U-shaped mounting member and a fastening leg portion secured to the bight portion of the U-shaped mounting member, a switch blade having an end portion disposed within the U-shaped mounting member adjacent one end thereof and on one side of the dividing leg portion of the L-shaped mounting member, and a switch blade .pivot pin having a shank portion received in bearing relationship in aligned openings provided respectively in one leg portion of the U- shaped mounting member, in the end portion of the switch blade, and in the dividing leg portion of the L- shaped mounting member, and having an enlarged head portion extending through an opening in the other leg portion of the U-shaped mounting member, one of the spring membershaving one leg portion pressing against the one leg portion of the U-shaped mounting member forming a bearing for the shank portion of the pivot pin and another leg portion pressing against the head portion of the pivot pin, the head portion having an inner annular face pressin against the other side of the dividing leg portion 0 the L-shaped mounting member, and a blade terminal of a cartridge fuse being receivable within the U-shaped mounting member adjacent the other end thereof and on the other side of the dividing leg portion of the L-shaped mounting member.

2. A mounting means as claimed in claim 1 wherein the opening in the other leg portion of the U-shaped mounting member is sufficiently larger than the head portion of the pivot pin to provide clearance.

3. A mounting means as claimed in claim 1 including an annular spacer mounted on the head portion of the pivot pin between the dividing leg portion of the L- shaped mounting member and the-other leg portion of the U-shaped mounting member.

4. A mounting means as claimed in claim 1 including a spacer between the one leg portion of the U-shaped mounting member and the dividing leg portion of the L-shaped mounting member adjacent the other end of the mounting members from the pivot pin. 

1. A fuse blade terminal and switch blade mounting means comprising a pair of substantially longitudinally aligned generally U-shaped spring members, a generally U-shaped mounting member disposed within the spring members, each of the spring members having a bight portion secured to a bight portion of the U-shaped mounting member, a generally L-shaped mounting member having a dividing leg portion dividing the space between a pair of opposed leg portions of the U-shaped mounting member and a fastening leg portion secured to the bight portion of the Ushaped mounting member, a switch blade having an end portion disposed within the U-shaped mounting member adjacent one end thereof and on one side of the dividing leg portion of the Lshaped mounting member, and a switch blade pivot pin having a shank portion received in bearing relationship in aligned openings provided respectively in one leg portion of the U-shaped mounting member, in the end portion of the switch blade, and in the dividing leg portion of the L-shaped mounting member, and having an enlarged head portion extending through an opening in the other leg portion of the U-shaped mounting member, one of the spring members having one leg portion pressing against the one leg portion of the U-shaped mounting member forming a bearing for the shank portion of the pivot pin and another leg portion pressing against the head portion of the pivot pin, the head portion having an inner annular face pressing against the other side of the dividing leg portion of the L-shaped mounting member, and a blade terminal of a cartridge fuse being receiVable within the U-shaped mounting member adjacent the other end thereof and on the other side of the dividing leg portion of the L-shaped mounting member.
 2. A mounting means as claimed in claim 1 wherein the opening in the other leg portion of the U-shaped mounting member is sufficiently larger than the head portion of the pivot pin to provide clearance.
 3. A mounting means as claimed in claim 1 including an annular spacer mounted on the head portion of the pivot pin between the dividing leg portion of the L-shaped mounting member and the other leg portion of the U-shaped mounting member.
 4. A mounting means as claimed in claim 1 including a spacer between the one leg portion of the U-shaped mounting member and the dividing leg portion of the L-shaped mounting member adjacent the other end of the mounting members from the pivot pin. 